Ceiling electric-light fixture and ventilator



" dan. 22, 1929. I 1,699,996

L. SIMMONS ACEILING ELECTRIC LIGHT FIXTURE AND VENTILATOR Filed -Nov. 25, 19.25 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 22, 1929.

1 slMMoNs CEILING ELECTRIYC LIGHT FIXTURE AND VENTILTOR 5 Filed Nov. 2:5, 1925' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

UNITED STATES g 1,699,996 PATENT OFFICE.

LEO SIMMONS, OF WASHINGTON,` DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

CEILING ELECTRIC-LIGHT FIXTURE VENTILATOR.

yAplzlieation filed November This invention relates to a combined ceiling light fixture and ventilator; and the objects and nature of the invention `will be readily understood by those skilled in ythe art in the light of the following explanations of the accompanying drawings that illustrate what I now believe to be the preferred mechanical expression or embodiment of the invention from among other forms, constructions and arrangements within the spirit and scope of the invention.

An object of the invention is to provide simple durable easily-operated means for carrying ceiling lights such as an electric light or lights and for Ventilating or setting u air circulation in the immediate vicinity of) such light by controlled upward air discharge through the ceiling, for the purpose of avoiding dangerously high temperatures in the zone heated by the light.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features in construction and in arrangements and combinations as more fully and particularly described and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof:

Fig. l shows in perspectivean embodiment of my invention applied to a ceiling, the ventilator being shown in open adjustment.v

Fig. 2 shows a portion of a building in vertical section, illustrating the device of my invention applied to a ceiling adjacent to and controlling an air escape and circulating duct or opening through the ceiling.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on a somewhat larger scale, the lights not being shown.

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section,

Fig. 5 is a detail-cross sectionv on the line 5 5, Fig. 4.

Lighting fixtures, particularly those providing more or less high power electric light bulbs, arranged in the vicinity of, as when suspended from, ceilings, will sometimes maintain a dangerously high tempera ture in the vicinity of the ceiling and this condition becomes exaggerated ,in` very hot weather or g under other 'conditions where highly heated air accumulates along the ceiling of a room without opportunity to escape or lotherwise circulate within or from the room. Such conditions constitute a serious fire hazard when the temperature of the confined or non-circulating hot air is boosted by the heat generated by illuminated high power electric light bulbs located more or 23, 1925. Serial No. 70,941.

less closely to the ceiling or lsuspended in such body of hot air.

I overcome this difliculty by combining ay ceiling ventilator with an electric light and also utilize the air heating capacity of the electric light to accelerate or boost the air circulation in the room and to and through the ventilator. v

The ceiling d, is formed or provided with a vertical air outlet passage or opening a, of'ample capacity for upflow of air from the room through the opening and into any suitable hot air outlet or offtake passage, for instance, Ventilating space b, having top outlet or offtake stack or cowl c.

The ventilator and light fixtures embodies a main supporting frame in the form of a ring or annulus l, secured in a horizontal position to the'ceiling or ceiling supports in any suitable manner or by any suitable means, in such manner as to fit up in the ceiling and surround the vertical air circulating or outlet opening a, and to cover and conceal the bottom edge of the ceiling surrounding said opening `and thus formv a covering and more or less ornamental finish as seen from below within the room;v For this purpose, the lower end of the vertical cylinder or body ofthe annulus is preferably formed with an exterior'horizontal flange l, to fit the bottom face or surface of the ceiling.

This flange l, can be formed with radial enlargements or otherwise for the attachmentY of suspending means 2, carrying electric light bulb sockets 3 for theV depending electric light bulbs 4. The sockets 3 can be Wired in the usual or any suitable manner with the wires extending up through the supporting annulus and lconnected with the house wiring, as will be well understood by those skilled inthe art.

If so desired, the electric light bulbs can be suspended inthe roonrfrom the annulus 1, to'form a circular series below the vertical ceiling outlet opening through the annulus,

and concentric with the vertical axis of said desired air circulation in and flow 'of fresh air to the room is maintained while the hereinbefore mentioned danger of over heating at the ceiling above the bulbs is avoided.

The capacity ol' the ceiling outlet opening a, is controlled and, if so desired, said opening can be closed, by a tlatplate or closure disk 6, arranged within the room below the ceiling or supporting annulus, and movable vertically toward and from said opening while being maintained horizontally whatever its vertical position.

In the example shown, the closure plate 6, moves vertically within the circle of depending light bulb supports, is fiat and circular in torni, is imperforate or closed against air passage therethrough, is of a diameter to close or seat against, the lower end ot'the annulus, and is formed with an exposed bottom VAtace more or less ornamental in character so as not to disiigure the ceiling of the room.

The bottom or exposed tace ot' the closure plate is formed for operative engagement by any suitable'implement in the hands `of a person standing in thel room to quickly move the plate up or down to the desired position. Forinstance, I show an exposed loop 6a, depending from the bottom side ot the plate, by which the plate can be pulled down to the desired depressed position, while the implement can engage the exposed bottom face ot the plate to push the plate up to the desired elevated position. The plate is supported and suspended from the annulus, by means rendering the plate capable ol quick and easy vertical movement, and that will hold the plate at the elevation to which it has been adjusted.

The plate is so arranged with respect to its supporting annulus, as to permit free inward low of air along the ceiling a-nd above the plate to the lower end ot the air outlet, when the plate is in position spaced down from the ceiling and annulus. The means by which the plate is suspended from the annulus, and rendered vertically movable, comprises a central vertical spindle 9, fixed to and upstanding from 'the plate, and a central hub 7, having a central vertical bore, said hub being iixed with respect to the annulus and carried by radiating spaced arms S, usually formed in one piece withv the annulus and center hub. The lower edges oit the arms and the lower end of the hub are usually elevated above the horizontal plane of the lower end oit' the annulus. The plate suspending and holding spindle 9, is movable vertically Athrough the hub 7, and is upheld thereby, and is coupled thereto through the medium of means that will hold the plate in the position to which it has been forcibly adjusted For instance, the plate is adjusted vertically by the application of torce to push the same upwardly or to pull the same downwardly without the necessity of rotating the plate and its suspending spindle, the spindle being slidable vertically through the bore 7.

Frictional locking or holding means is provided to hold the spindle and plate in adjusted position, but to permit vertical sliding adjustment of the plate and its spindle on the application of the necessary, although comparatively slight, force to the plate from below.

As an example of etlicient and satisfactory means for this purpose, I provide an elongated coiled spring l0, longitudinally and loosely confined within a housing ll, loosely between stop-forming end caps 12, ot said housing, said housing extending longitudinally through and secured in the hub The end caps 12 are perforated for the passage of the spindle 9, which is freely slidable therethrough.` The spindle extends upwardly beyond the housing and its top end cap, and at its upper end is provided with a. suitable stop 9a, to limit the downward movement of the spindle and the plate 6 carried thereby. rIhe comparatively smooth surtace slide or spindle 9, extends longitudinally through the spring l0, which is ont such relative internal diameter as to trictionally engage and Contact the slide 9, with a spring grip, and with sufficient pressure and friction to sustain the weight of the spindle 9, and plate 6, and uphold the same against downward movement. However, the spring slidably grasps the spindle so that on the application of suiiicient torce, longitudinally ot the spindle, the spindle will slide vertically through the spring, during which movement the spring will move up andabut the top cap or move down and abut the lower cap.

Claim is not made herein to the structural arrangements and features that provide a combined ceiling ventilator and electric light xtureas a unitary organization, as such are claimed in my application liled Sept. 23, 1926, Ser. No. 137,288, claims retained in the instant case being devoted to the ventilator features per se.

It is evident that various changes, modilications, and vari-ations might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention defined by the claims and hence I do not wish to limit the invention to the approximate exact disclosure hereof.

What I claim is:

l. In combination, a supporting `annlulus constructedand formed to be fixed in a horizontal position in a vertical air outlet through a ceiling, a horizontally maintained disk below said annulus and movable vertically with respect thereto to close and open said outlet from below, and supporting and suspending means from said annulus to said disk whereby said disk is rendered vertically slidable on the application of pull or push force from below and whereby said disk is held at the elevation to which it has been forced, said means embodying a vertical slide spindle rising from the disk, a guide way carried by the annulus and slidably receiving said spindle, and a coiled spring confined by said guideway and surrounding the spindle with a frictional sliding engagement.

2. In combination, a supporting frame constructed and formed to be secured in a vertical Ventilating opening through a ceiling and provided with and carrying a central vertical guideway having a vertical coiled spring confined therein, and a horizontally maintained disk arranged below said opening and movable vertically to open and close said opening and provided with a central upstanding suspending and supporting spindle slidable vertically through said guideway and spring, said spring having slidable gripping engagement with said spindle.

3. In combination, a supporting frame constructed and formed to be secured in a vertical Ventilating opening through a ceiling and provided with and carrying a central vertical guideway, and a horizontally maintained disk arranged below said opening and movable vertically to open and close said opening and provided with a central upstanding suspending and supporting spindle slidable vertically through said guideway, and means carried by said frameto grip and hold said spindle at any elevation to which it has been pushed up or pulled down.

4. In combination, a supporting frame constructed and formed to be secured in a vertical Ventilating opening through a ceiling and provided with and carrying a central vertical guideway, and a horizontally maintained disk arranged below said opening and movable vertically to open and close said opening and provided with a central upstanding suspending and supporting spindle slidable vertically through said guideway, and means carried by said frame to grip and hold said spindle at any elevation to which it has been pushed up or pulled down, said means having sliding as well as grippingengagement with said spindle, the underside of said disk exposed for pushing upwardly and having an accessible bottom projection `for pulling the 'disk down.

Signed at Washington, D. C., this 23d day of November, 1925.

LEO SIMMONS. 

